This excerpt is from Creative Photoshop CS4 Digital Illustration and Art Techniques. Used by permission of Focal Press. Copyright © 2009. Part of the Creative Edge Photoshop Resources Page.

Exclusive access for CreativePro.com readers provided by:

Learn how to create whimsical character faces using shape layers, which you can easily make with Photoshop's Pen tool or any of its shape tools. No matter what style of face you're creating, when it comes to flexibility and versatility, shape layers are the absolute key to success.

This article will focus on two creative techniques and working methods: Creating from virtually nothing, and cutting your work in half.

Creating from virtually nothing
Building a character like the one shown below is the result of piecing together the right ingredients and knowing just how to edit select components to make them unique. The predefined shapes you'll use are basic. The shapes you'll create with the Pen tool are nothing extravagant. However, the method of construction and the ability to visualize the result are important. As you work your way through the chapter, the logic will fall into place and you'll get a feel for how simple regions of sharp color, on a series of layers, can act together to create an expressive character with a unique personality.

Cutting your work in half
Obviously, details like eyes or antennas are things that appear more than once on the face. Just because there are two eyes or two antennas, it doesn't mean that you must carefully construct each instance. You'll learn how to logically group the shape layers that make up each feature, duplicate them, and flip or alter specific details to make these features look as if they belong together on the face or head.

CreativePro.com readers have special access to this excerpt on the Creative Edge website. Click here to read "Create Characters with Photoshop's Shape Layers."